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Florida Man Charged With Aggravated Animal Cruelty in Lee County
Just the facts
Authorities in Lee County, Florida, arrested 48-year-old David Charette Jr. and charged him with felony aggravated animal cruelty following a law enforcement response to a home in Pine Manor. Body camera footage captured deputies confronting Charette after receiving reports that he was attempting to drown and strike a two-month-old kitten named Luna. According to Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, witnesses stated that Charette intentionally abused and killed kittens in front of his teenage daughter to punish her when she misbehaved. Further investigation revealed that Charette had allegedly killed two other kittens over the preceding year by smothering one with a bleach-soaked rag and using a blow-dryer on another. Veterinary staff treated the surviving kitten at a local animal hospital, where the animal was reported to be recovering.
Why this is news
Lee County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested 48-year-old David Charette Jr. after responding to a report at a residence in Pine Manor, Florida. Investigators determined that Charette abused and killed multiple kittens in front of his teenage daughter as a form of punishment.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.